Queen Elizabeth II Steps Out Alone as Prince Philip Remains Hospitalized to Open New BBC Broadcasting House

In a special live broadcast Friday, the 87-year-old royal officially opened the revamped BBC broadcasting house in Central London.

During her visit, the queen was given a guided tour of the building and was treated to a performance by The Voice star Danny O’Donoghue and his band The Script in BBC Radio 1’s live lounge.

She also marked the occasion by giving a rare speech on live radio, recalling her own experiences with the BBC while musing over the ever-growing broadcasting business.

“It is a great pleasure to visit the BBC today, and to see it in its new home,” she said. “I remember first coming to Broadcasting House with my father the king, my mother and sister, shortly before the war. I came again with the Duke of Edinburgh just before the coronation in 1953. I was struck then as I am now by the sheer pace of change which has transformed your industry over the past 60 years, years during which broadcasting has enriched our lives in so many ways. I hope this new building will serve you well for the future, and I am delighted to declare it open today.”

The Queen’s latest royal outing comes in the wake of her 92-year-old husband’s hospitalization.

The Duke of Edinburgh recently underwent exploratory surgery at a London clinic, where he is “progressing satisfactorily” after the operation, according to the Buckingham Palace.Follow @Infocelebrity on Twitter!